Higher education faces stress test

Community college fees are likely to rise about $10 to $36 per unit, if the budget talks break down and the state is forced to meet its budget deficit by raising education costs.

“The UC, CSU and California Community Colleges can get our state headed back in the right direction. But, we cannot do it with continually shrinking budgets,” state Chancellor Jack Scott said.

College tuition is inexpensive in California, even with the projected increase. For example, tuition in Texas amounts to about $1,230 for full-time students, per semester compared to about $600 in California.